Avoid Door Dashing With These Easy Tips!

During this wonderful time of year, we all have plenty of guests coming in and out of our homes. Teaching your dog to wait at the door is important because it helps to prevent door dashing. The last thing anyone wants is their dog to go missing because they decided to dash out the door! To train your pup, you will need:

1. Training Treats. 

Examples – Zukes, BuddyBiscuits, Orijen Freeze Dried Treats, Stella and Chewy’s Carnivore Crunch, and Purebites.

2. A Clicker or use of a command, like “good”

3. Patience.

Once you have these items, you can begin! Start practicing with your dog at a door that does not lead outside, like the bathroom door. Have your dog on a leash and ask him to sit at the door. Give the command, “wait”, and then reach your hand towards the door handle. If he stays in this position, click the clicker or say “good”, and give a treat. It is very important that the reward and command are given at the exact same time immediately after the good behavior.

The goal is to enforce the correct behavior with positive feedback; Treats! Once he has the reaching for the door handle down, try opening the door. If he goes to dash, close it immediately. You are trying to associate him dashing with the door closing. Once he is doing well at the bathroom door, move onto the front door. Eventually, practice waiting at the door with guests coming into your home that are in on the training. If the dog tries to dash, the guest can close the door and go back outside.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Repeat, repeat, repeat; the more you practice, the better your dog will be. Continue practicing with your dog for 5 to 10 minute sessions daily. Your dog may become bored or distracted if you practice too often. Limiting it to small sessions every day helps your dog to stay attentive and interested.

If you are struggling to get your dog to stay on command, there are plenty of dog trainers who can come to your home and help you with this task. You can find business cards for local trainers at all the Cherrybrook locations.

Holiday Décor Do’s and Don’ts in a Home with Pets

Christmas trees, holiday lights, candles, tinsel, poinsettias; the holidays are a magical time with decorations galore! Knowing what can harm your pets is important when deciding how to decorate your home for this wonderful time of year. There are certain decorations that should be avoided completely depending on the pet you have, so educate yourself and avoid having a giant holiday mishap this year!

Christmas trees are a staple in many homes during the holiday season. Our Christmas trees sit in stagnant water throughout the season so they do not go bad. This water is a breeding ground for bacteria and should not be ingested by your pet. Keep your pets away from this water as it could cause an upset tummy with diarrhea or nausea. Using a tree skirt to cover the water may help keep them away from the threat. Other plants like holly and mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems in dogs and cats. Many varieties of lilies can cause acute kidney failure in cats if ingested. Instead, opt for artificial plants made from silk or plastic.

Tinsel is a very common decoration used during the holidays. This beautiful, sparkly, light weight decoration is especially enticing to our feline friends. While they may look cute playing with tinsel, it can be extremely dangerous. Playing can lead to chewing, which can then lead to swallowing. If your cat ingests tinsel it can cause a life threatening obstruction in the digestive tract. Avoid using tinsel if your share your home with felines.

Holiday decorations warm our homes and hearts. Knowing what can be potentially dangerous to our furry companions means a happy and healthy holiday season for all!

Have A Safe and Happy Howl-a-day Party with your Pets

  

The Holidays are fast approaching and our furry friends want in on the friends, food, and merry! There are certain things you should keep in mind when looking to include your pets in the Holiday Festivities.

Our pets love routines, so try your best to keep to their regular schedules. Too much change can sometimes lead to a very stressed out pet which may result in unwanted behaviors. The Holiday’s can be a very busy time for us, but it is important that your pets feeding time and walking time remain as close to normal as possible. Remember; happy pet, happy you.

Many of us enjoy a good Holiday party or dinner with friends and family. Some of our furry friends love to be in on the action, while others do not. If your pet does not do well with large groups of people, set up a room for them to go as a sanctuary. 

Your cat or dog may want to hide out away from the hustle and bustle until the guests have all gone. Make sure they have plenty of water and a cozy bed in a separate room for the duration of the gathering. There are plenty of holistic calming remedies available to make this time easier on your shy pets, like Heavenly Hounds Bars and Rescue Remedy.

If your pet is a social butterfly and basks in the attention of guests, make sure there are healthy pet treats available. We all love to spoil our pets, and Grandma is no exception. Having pet treats available for your guests to give your dog or cat will help to avoid them getting table scraps from overeager guests. Alcoholic beverages, fatty, spicy human foods, as well as cooked bones, should not be fed to your furry companions as it can lead to diarrhea or hazardous blockages in the stomach.